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Manny nears return; Padilla out through May

Manny nears return; Padilla out through May

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers expect star slugger Manny Ramirez to return shortly, but they will be without their Opening Day pitcher for at least another month.

Vicente Padilla's right-elbow soreness should keep him out until at least the end of May, manager Joe Torre said Sunday.

"He's better, he's feeling better, but not having thrown for a while, I don't see him helping us this month," Torre said. "That's not anything, I think, unusual."

Padilla went on the disabled list April 25, three days after taking a no-decision in an 8-5 loss to the Reds. Padilla is 1-1 with a 7.06 ERA in four starts.

Ramirez is eligible to return from the disabled list Saturday. Bothered by a right-calf strain, Ramirez is scheduled to join Jeff Weaver in a rehab appearance for the Class A Inland Empire 66ers on Tuesday in San Bernardino.

The Dodgers considered trying to get Ramirez some at-bats at Triple-A to better prepare him for big league pitching, but the Albuquerque Isotopes are on the road in Memphis mid-week. That's too far, and too much of a circus, for Ramirez, Torre felt, because he has been able to take batting practice while he's healed.

Torre said Weaver, out with a right-lower-back strain, felt fine Sunday after throwing three innings of a simulated game at Dodger Stadium the day before. Weaver is scheduled to throw three innings in a start for San Bernardino Tuesday to prepare for a Friday return to the Dodgers' bullpen.